Art & Life with Alyssa Robinson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Robinson.

Alyssa, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
The desire to be an artist has been within me for as long as I can remember. I grew up drawing variations of my favorite cartoons, creating comics, and being told by my parents, peers, and teachers that I was meant to make art. By the time I was about to enter college I was dead-set on getting an arts degree, but unfortunately, I did not get accepted into the major at my university. This was an immense emotional blow, and I completely lost confidence in my abilities. After that, I studied Biological Anthropology and by the time graduation rolled around in 2015 I was planning on going to graduate school. But I took a year off in between, and during that time realized my heart was no longer in that field – and it probably never was.

One day during the spring of 2016 I was scrolling through the Explore page on Instagram and I saw a calligraphy video. I thought it was so beautiful and decided I might as well give it a try. From the first time I practiced I fell in love with it, and as I improved I gained the confidence to start a separate Instagram account for my artwork. I used to be so competitive and insecure about what I created, but Instagram provided me with a community that completely changed my perspective. It taught me to encourage and celebrate others rather than see them as a threat. Eventually I started dabbling in watercolor and other forms of illustration, and as my skill set grew so did my following and amount of commission requests.

I’m still not a full-time artist (I split my time between freelance art and working as a receptionist at a law firm). But even part-time freelance is more than freshman-year-of-college Alyssa ever thought was possible.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My main goal as an artist is to grow and learn as much as possible, and for that reason I do a lot of different things. My work includes simple brush lettering, typography, watercolor, portraits, figure drawings, and more. Watercolor illustration still holds the number one spot in my heart, particularly painting moons, galaxies, and plants. My appreciation and connection to nature has dramatic increased since I began painting. I see the world around me in a completely new way, and with every piece I try to convey how much majesty I view in it.

On the flip side of all of that, I also try to convey my own sense of humor in my work. Instagram is a terrific platform to casually post silly (and maybe even vulgar) pieces that I believe help me better connect with my followers. My favorite way to do this is to paint a galaxy or some regal natural subject and then pair it with a stupid quote. I find that juxtaposition hilarious. Laughter and making people smile are important to me, and it brings me so much joy to combine that aspect of my personality with my art. We often get so caught up in the flowery, inspirational, disciplined side of being an artist. But I like to remind people that your art doesn’t have to mean anything. You just have to enjoy it!

How do you think about success, as an artist, and what do quality do you feel is most helpful?
At this point in my journey, I determine my success by how much I can grow. As I mentioned in a previous question, my goal is to learn as many mediums and styles as possible, and ideally to get pretty good at them. Obviously, some ventures go better than others, but by not putting limits on myself I’m able to discover more types of art that bring me joy and challenge me to practice. It keeps me from feeling bored or stagnant, and as a result I’ve produced more art in the last two years than I probably ever have before. When I’m constantly creating I am the most fulfilled, happiest version of me, and that is a success all in itself.

In addition to a willingness to grow and practice often, I also think it’s essential to have hobbies that have nothing to do with art – and to specifically dedicate time to those hobbies. One of my greatest fears is burning out and breeding hatred for my passion, and if I didn’t try to step away from my desk daily I’d already be halfway there. It’s important to nurture other aspects of your brain and health. My first year of freelance involved a lot of neck and back pain, poor sleeping habits, no exercise, and no reading. Now I make conscious efforts to work out, go outside, read, etc. and as a result I feel refreshed and ready to do my best work every time I sit down to paint.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Instagram is my main platform, and I try to post at least 3-5 times a week there. The best way to support my work is to share my account or any particular post you enjoy with others! Almost everything I post on Instagram is up for grabs, so I encourage people to request purchases – either through a direct message, an email, or my Etsy. And I’m usually taking commissions, so please feel free to contact me anytime! My Etsy shop has admittedly fallen onto the back burner these days, so the listings are very limited and sparse. Regardless, it’s still a great way to get in touch with me and request a custom piece.

I’m also starting to teach workshops through Creative Tribe here in Tucson! I can’t tell you how encouraging it is as an artist to see a room of people who actually want to learn something from you. I always announce upcoming workshops on my Instagram, and Creative Tribe posts them on their website, their Instagram, and creates event pages on Facebook.

Contact Info:

• Website: arobinsonart.etsy.com
• Email: illysstrations@gmail.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/arobinsonart

Image Credit:
Alyssa Robinson

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